Stephen uses the history and story of the Old Testament to speak about the character of God and what He desires from people. Some rejoice in these great truths, like Stephen, while others dismiss them or in the case of these we hear about today, they are enraged with anger leading them to murder Stephen. In Stephen’s death we see a man who not only shared about the mercy of God, but also displayed that same mercy himself as he breathed his last longing for God to not hold the murderous sin of these leaders against them. Today, may we rejoice in God for His mercy and patience and desire to emulate the life and even death of Stephen.